Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 808, 31 October 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

A BRAVE ACT Sir, In your issue of Tuesday there was an account of a seaman who, at the risk of his life, swam out to an abandoned vessel to save a cat. A lady who is a lover of cats felt that she would like to show her appreciation of his action and thought of sending him a present of- a pipe through you but on second thoughts decided to send £1 with which he might prefer to get some present for his wife or children if he is blessed with either Enclosed please find a £1 note, which please forward to this man. I would be glad if you can find room in your columns for this letter, as it may act as a suggestion to others to recognise a brave act that is well worthy of recognition. EPSOM. WEALTH IN WAR TIME Sir, It is all very well to discount the conscription of wealth in war-time on behalf of the capitalist who is paying for greater war preparation. But if the whole production of the State were conscripted and a state of emergency declared during war-time—and if the capitalists knew this was to happen—there would be less likelihood of war than there is at the present time. It is obvious that from every war huge individual profits are made, and if the possibility of profit-making were eliminated, there would go with it also the probability of war. More good would be accomplished by this method than even by the friendly gestures and logcabin talks between the Prime Minister of Great Britain and the President of the United States of America. O.L. HIGHER TRAM FARES Sir, After all that the Auckland transport authorities have done, it is hardly surprising that fares are shortly to be raised, and the concession halved. Allied with this prediction —which is very well founded—is the lamentation of the board’s officials that people are buying private motorcars in increasing numbers, and others are accepting rides in the cars of their friends, thus defeating the intentions of the transport board to give service. I would like to ask the Transport Board if its members believe thev have a right to ask the public patron-

age before they have actually provided the service which will encourage the people to support them. The fact is that the new rate of fares will accentuate the transfer from trams to motor-cars, and the transport system, instead of improving, will simply deteriorate into a state worse than it is at present—if that be possible. I assume that bus fares, too, will rise with the tram fares, and people will be penalised further for having to stand and be tossed into physical exhaustion and mental exasperation by these rollicking, jerky vehicles. To own one’s own motor-car seems to be the only remedy. A.B. A ONE-MAN JOB Sir,— I was pleased to read in Saturday’s Sun a letter signed "Constant Traveller,” criticising the Transport Board. I don’t agree with the last sentence recommending an elective board. The whole thing wants wiping out. It, was the most arrant piece of folly appointing a salaried board to heap more expense on a non-paying concern. One good business man could run the whole affair, but be would require to have a free hand, and not be dictated to by a number of men who have different ideas of what should be done. The employees, also, should not be allowed to be as aggressive as they are at the present time. In Iny opinion, the only way to make the trams pay would be to revert to the penny fare for every section, and do away with all concession cards, as there is a big loss on them. The extra passengers carried would easily make up for the loss of the penny on the first section. i AAould like to point out to the ratepayers that they have to face a good loss. On the extensions now being carried out, there is no doubt that the buses are the most suitable sexMce tor the outer districts. ANOTHER TRAVELLER. “SHAMEFUL SILENCE” Sir, —- I am indeed thankful that Dr. HastfwP , h , aS brok ? n away from the shameful silence of the medical profession wreckage° THT ° f lecKdge. At the same time I feel obliged to point out that the doctor’s The SuV* Tf\ by Uny means new to lHe oun. If you care. sir. to look b f, c 7 k ovcr y° ur files for about July l -i. >ou will come across two letters (Continued in next column.)

of mine upon the subject—the first under the caption of “Mrs. Grundy's Disciples,” ajid the second “The Empire of Fog.” And then a third letter upon “Educate Youth.*’ In addition to these letters I have had many others published in New Zealand papers during the past seven years upon the kindred subjects of disease and its prevention by education, the terrible folly of the “hush” policy in sex matters, and the vital need for frank and courageous education of all young people. Courage is the one great asset so pitifully lacking in our present cowardly estimation of “morality.” which in truth is one hundred per cent, humbug. In this respect one of the wbrld’s leading sex psychologists telis us: “If vice has slain iis thousands, fear has slain its ton thousands.” —Professor Stanley Hall. ' If, sir, we only had a frank and courageous system of morality, the problems of sex would no longer work such fearful havoc and devastation as they have done for generations past. When Dr. Hastings advocates the extension of the Plunket Society. I should like to point out that I have strenuously advocated the formation of a humanist society for the educative purpose mentioned, and I am beginning to wonder if, after all, there is some hope at last. HUMANIST. WRESTLING—“ON THE AIR” Sir.— “Pirate” has had his Indian sympathies tickled. In my humble opinion the announcer on Monday night excelled himself, and I would like to tender thanks for the able and bright manner in which the wrestling events have been broadcast by this - announcer. Personally, I doubt if there is another person in Australia or New Zealand capable of giving such a technical, bright and entertaining description of a wrestling bout than our friend who described Monday’s meeting. If “Pirate” requires “a picturesque description of the wrestling so that I could tell how the parties stood in the ring,” I would suggest he drop the role of pirate and pay admission to the Town Hall next Monday, when he will see the return match, and also hear worse names than “Banana” and “Sugar” from the enthusiastic crowd in the gallery. Jf “Pirate” cannot attend next Mondav, let him turn off his set for the evening. He is not compelled to list* n. GRANDPA. A GOOD BROADCAST Si iv— Kindly permit me a few words in reply to “Pirate.” I think I can safely say that the majority ol r listeners are quite satisfied with the wrestling broadcast descriptions. Certainly the announcer gets excited sometimes, and thereby passes on the thrills to the listener. Let ’’Pirate” listen in to kidney or Melbourne—whose stations are so often held up as a pattern— T nnn D T lind IYA L*S t US good. I cannot say I ■Jove" IYA programmes. ' * But please reserve me those phones when the wrestling is on the aii. Congratulations, announcer, for your breezy descriptions— you certainly get me a. little excited, too. I have se ? n a wrestling bout, but the day is not far distant when J wilt f® I th ® audience at the Town I you have made me keen. AJcr.v how, I prefer wrestling to two prim announcements, coupled wit* v programme of high-brow music Ndrilk possibly one laugh in the eveniS. iff® ‘ ? er , S admire the Indian wreSC folfnvf ti lf th ? lr names are liar* % lollov, then why not a little tk,n Ur hett fun V WB follow the defSS? ten better > set ,n a good humour air ten to one, our Indian friends h#S a good laugh afterward too T kTound 0 tV lat 7 Uh a biß waited crowd wmv nf 1 . 1 ! 6 Platform, and the poss?- - n testants rolling on top eLk at any time > it is no min,t ■ deserl 1,1 n s the bout—one rok- a hlsp r in& the next trying to and tbe noise of the crowd w”fh 3 ™ aWay ” ° neSe,£ Sorry, “Pirate,” but I think I have mv With mc - 1 have done casting ° f crlt,c ‘sing the Broaden 8 Company, but I congratulate them on their action in rominp on the f* r the scheduled silent nights. an> * bQ , abfilty of their announcer to ? r and Please most listeners ith whom I have come in contact. SATISFIED.